AP Assembly adjourned thrice as TRS, TDP disrupt proceedings

Hyderabad, Feb 21: Proceedings of Andhra Pradesh Assembly had to be repeatedly adjourned for the third today as members of various parties raised protests on different issues.

The Telangana Rashtra (TRS) Samiti members stormed the Speaker's podium demanding a resolution on creation of a separate state. The TDP members too joined the protest demanding that the suspension of five MLAs be revoked immediately.

Atleast 11 Congress MLAs loyal to rebel leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy rose to their feet holding banners and demanding that the government immediately release funds for reimbursement of tuition fee for students pursuing professional courses.

Three Congress MLAs from Telangana too stood up raising slogans in support of a separate state. Amidst all this, Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar adjourned the House three times.

After the third adjournment for half-an-hour, he called a meeting of floor leaders of all parties to break the impasse.

Three TRS and two TDP MLAs were on Friday suspended from the House for a week for their unruly behaviour during the Governor''s address on the opening day of Budget session.

Raising the issue as soon as the House began this morning, Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu urged Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar, who was in the Chair, to reconsider the suspension of MLAs.

"You should have at least heard the MLAs before suspending them. You should have shown restraint," Chandrababu told the Deputy Speaker.

He demanded that the members'' suspension be revoked immediately. .

Labour Minister Danam Nagender intervened said the issue could be reconsidered if the suspended tendered an unconditional apology to the House and to people of state over their behaviour.

The TDP members raised objection to certain remarks made by the Minister and demanded that they be expunged.

TDP leader Nagam Janardhana Reddy rushed into the Well of the House forcing the Deputy Speaker to adjourn the proceedings for ten minutes.

Manohar announced that any unparliamentary language would be expunged from the records. The House re-assembled after more than an hour and took up condolence motions for two former members who died recently.

The Deputy Speaker announced that the questions listed for the day were being postponed.

At that point the TRS members stormed the Speaker's podium demanding that a resolution be passed on the statehood issue. As the din continued, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the proceedings for another ten minutes.

PTI